Callum woke with a start, before realizing it was still the early hours of the morning. The sun had not yet risen yet, and he realized he most likely was woken due to the servants and guards starting breakfast. He seemed to be the last one awake. He rose to his feet, yawning and stretching.

"A beautiful morning," he noted, a little more cheerfully than usual, as he walked up beside Corvus and looked out across the hills to the sunrise beyond. Lux Aurea was on the horizon—and it was beautiful in the early morning sunlight. It glinted and gleaned and flashed bright yellow—no mistake. They would be there within a day-perhaps by tonight if they went quickly.

Callum sighed. "It's crazy," he said. "Just a few weeks ago, I had no idea I was going to be a father. Now, I know I'm going to be a father. I mean like, I went from not being a father to now—boom, I'm going to be a father and I had no idea. And I have no idea how to be a father, either."

He stretched his neck slightly—he didn't want to say it out loud, but…he was worried about the child not making it. He had hoped that he and Rayla would one day have a family—he had assumed they'd have to adopt, since the idea of them conceiving a baby had never occurred to him.

Now that it had become a reality…he felt anxiety and fear gnaw at his gut deep inside him. What Rayla must be going through, all on her own—with no one to support her during this time... He clenched his hands into fists, breathing out slowly through his nose to quell his anger. Whoever—or whatever—had stopped their letters from reaching each other would have some answers to give, if Callum ever found them.

Rayla must feel so alone…alone, and he, Callum, hadn't been there for her. And she must have thought, all this time, that he had abandoned her. His eyes stung at the thought. How alone she must feel. Pregnant with their child—and him none the wiser.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, and glanced over to see Corvus smiling worriedly at him. Corvus squeezed his shoulder comfortingly, before saying, "I'm sure everything will be alright. And if it's any consolation, I'm sure you'll be a wonderful father."

Callum nodded silently.

"Let's head out as soon as possible," he said. "I want to stay in Lux Aurea for just a few hours—enough time to regroup and replenish our supplies. Then we'll be heading on. I knew we should have gone through the desert…" he muttered. They were wasting too much time going round the long way, even if the dessert was dangerous for a large group of people traveling together. If this trip had been planned ahead of time, they could have hired passage through the Midnight Desert, but as it stood, they were rushed into action, and therefore forced to take a longer route.

Corvus nodded. "I'll tell the rest to pack up camp after breakfast.

He and Callum turned to head back into the camp, where the delicious smell of breakfast was already beckoning them, when they suddenly felt a chill—and darkness fell over their camp.

Confused, for the sun was now beyond the horizon line, and there was no cloud in sight just moments ago, Callum turned to look over his shoulder. What he saw made his blood run cold.

A large shape was flying towards Lux Aurea. A dragon. Not just any dragon…

But…

Queen Zubeia.

Callum's heart was in his throat as he drove his horse forward towards the gates of Lux Aurea. Queen Zubeia had fled the Storm Spire. That much was clear. Zym would be with her, Callum had no doubt. Perhaps the other Dragon Guard would have fled with her—unless…

No.

He couldn't think like that. Of course the other Dragon Guard fled with her. And Rayla would be among them. He would reach Lux Aurea, and he and Rayla would finally be reunited.

He forced his horse into a thundering halt at the gates. At first, no one approached him or even seemed to notice he was there. Finally, he saw the top of a Sunfire Elf appear upon the great wall, before a shout was heard.

Over the top of the gate, an elf vaulted down and landed before him. "Well met, stranger," the elf said, frowning at him. His voice indicated they were not well met. "And what is a human doing in these parts?"

"I am Callum, High Mage of Katolis," Callum said. "Tell Queen Janai that I am here to speak with her."

The elf tilted his head, gazing at Callum shrewdly. "In times like these we must be vigilant," the elf said. "You understand that we must treat all humans who approach our city with—"

"Yes, I know," Callum said, rolling his eyes, and sliding off his horse. "But I am a friend of Queen Janai—she knows I am coming, I'm sure she has—"

Callum heard a roar—a dragon's roar, and his eyes widened. That was Queen Zubeia, no doubt about it. With quick movements, Callum shrugged off his coat, and tied it around his waist.

"What are you doing?" the elf asked, sounding unimpressed.

Callum doubted he would be for long.

"Manus. Pluma. Volantus!" Callum shouted. The Sunfire Elf's eyes widened in surprise, backing up farther away from him as Callum summoned his mage wings.

Flapping hard to push himself off the ground, Callum lifted himself into the air and high above the city of Lux Aurea. He then flew straight for Janai's citadel.

Rayla groaned slightly. She felt sore all over—she wasn't sure what had happened to her, but she felt like she had fallen a thousand feet. And somehow survived, so that couldn't be it.

Still…she wouldn't have been surprised if a brick wall had fallen onto her.

Yehven.

Her eyes flew open, and she moved her hands to touch her belly, to reassure herself that the baby was okay. Except she couldn't, because her hands were tied behind her back.

"What…"

She couldn't speak either…she was gagged.

Did…did Yehven do this?

She was in a dark cave—luckily, she could see well enough in the dark. And there were crystals and glowworms in many corners as well as on the ceiling of the cave, which illuminated the dark. She looked down at herself, and saw her belly was normal—she didn't feel anything wrong with the baby.

But still…this was certainly not the Storm Spire.

What had happened? Yehven had attacked her. Attacked her. And then...it was foggy after that. She had attempted to fight him off, but-with being so pregnant, and not wanting to hurt the baby by fighting too intensely, he had gotten the better of her, knocking her out.

"Don't worry," a voice said from behind her.

A…familiar voice.

"We won't hurt you—not until you've served your purpose, Elf."

Rayla felt a cold wave of fear wash over her. She knew that voice. She had heard it before. But this was impossible. That voice should never be heard again.

That voice should belong to one of the dead.

She watched out of the corner of her eyes as a pair of boots and legs walked around her, stopping before her. As she looked up into the eyes of Viren, she felt bile rise into her throat.

While she coughed and choked on the contents of her stomach, he crouched before her. She stared at him, wide eyed and fear stricken.

Viren…was alive.

But that was impossible.

He fell to his death.

There was no way anyone could survive a fall like that.

"Surprised to see me alive?" Viren asked. "You don't know what patience it has taken not to visit you sooner—not to…repay you for your attempt on my life."

"Mmhmm," she tried to speak, but the gag prevented her from articulating anything.

"Don't worry, we won't kill you yet," Viren said, and Rayla looked up to see another—Claudia, walking up behind Viren. Behind her, she could see Yehven standing, his shoulders and neck slack, his eyes vacant and out of focus. It was almost as if he were sleeping while standing.

Viren placed a hand on her stomach, moving his hand as if to admire the roundness of her belly. She felt bile rise up again, this time in disgust at being touched by this monster.

"You have a purpose to serve out yet," he said. "You're safe…until the birth of the halfling child…" he smiled at her. "And then you'll pay for your transgressions."

TO BE CONTINUED…

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